Therapeutical lamp



LSSQZSZ March 22, i932., A. E. WIEBE THERAPEUTICAL LAMP Filed Oct. 2l, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 22, 1932,. A. E. wlEBE 1,850,252

THERAPEUTICAL LAMP Filed Oct. 21. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 22, 1932 NlTED STATES Parent carica ARTHUR E. WIEBE, QF CHICAGO, :[LJINOES, ASSIG'NOR TO HANOV CHEMICAL 2: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, GF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, CORPORATON 0F NEW JERSEY THERAFEUTICAL LAMP Application filed October 21, 1929. Serial No. 401,251.

rlhis invention relates to therapeutical lamps of the type which has water circulating thereabout for reducing the temperature raised by the electric arc and for preventing damage by overheating.

Conventional therapeutical lamps have a casing which is similar to that shown in the present casing, and they have a compartment or chamber for receiving the vacuum element i@ and the electrodes. The vacuum element is usually held in position in the compartment or chamber by having a portion thereof imbedded in a pitchy substance, such as asphalt or bitumen.' During operation of the lamp,

w which becomes heated by the electric arc, this pitchy substance tends to dissolve or separate and permits the circulating fluid to leak past and around the electrodes and electrical connections and short circuit the lamp.

rlhe present invention eliminates the disadvantages inherent to these conventional lamps, and its primary object is to provide an improved seal for water-cooled therapeutical lamps for preventing the circulating water from coming in Contact with the electrodes and conductors and causing a short circuit.

Another object is to provide improved means in the form of a cushion to prevent the lobes and legs of the vacuum element from coming in contact with the metal casing, and thereby absorb any shock which may occur while handling the lamp.

Another object is to provide an improvedv combination and arrangement of the parts to prevent water circulating about the vacuum element or tube from coming in contact with the electrodes or the terminal connections and causing a short circuit of the lamp.

Another object is to provide an improved electrical connection for lamps of the class described to thoroughly seal and insulate the electrical connections with the vacuum element. 1

Another object is to provide an improved seal which is provided with means for accommodating either bi-lobed or tri-lobed vacuum elements or tubes which are operated by direct or alternating current respectively.

Numerous other objects and advantages will appear throughout the progress of the specification.

rlhe invention comprises in general a twopart casing having a compartment in which a vacuum element or tube having lobes is arranged. Mercury is carried within the vacuum element to produce an eulgence of violet 'colored rays of strong actinic power when the proper electrical connection is` made. 'lhe legs of the vacuum element or tube extend through a part of the casing where an electrical connection is made between its conductors and the tube electrodes. rlhe parts are thoroughly insulated and made watertight to prevent any water which may enter the compartment in which the tube and electrodes are arranged from contacting the electrodes and causing a short circuit. limproved means provide a watertight seal to prevent any water from seeping through or leaking out of the compartment and coming in Contact with the terminal connections.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. l is a detaill perspective view of the improved therapeutical lamp. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which electrical connections are made with the vacuum element or tube.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the cushion member which is arranged about the legs of the vacuum tube to prevent them from coming in contact with the lamp casing.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the improved seal and the manner in which the conductors are mounted.

Fig. 8 is a detail section of the end seal member which may be used with either bilobed or tri-lobed tubes, depending upon the type of electric current used.

Referring to the drawings, l1 designates a casing having a rearward portion 12 and a forward portion 13. A chamber 14, Fig. 2, is provided in the casing to accommodate a 100 sectional view quartz vacuum element or tube 15. A handle 16 is connected to the rear part .12 of the casing and to the rearwardly extending body portion 17. The bod 17 rovldes a compartment 18, Fig. 2, 1n wh1ch the lobes 19 and legs 20 of the vacuum element or tube 15 are received. If direct current 1s employed for operating the lamp, two lobes are provided, but ify alternating current is used, three lobes are employed. The lobes are operatively connected to the vacuum element or tube, and the legs are operatively connected to the lobes, Fig. 5. The element is encased in an outer quartz vacuum chamber 21 which is fused hermetically at its joint 22 with the several lobes and covered exteriorly, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5.' The rear ends. of the lobes are contracted to form cones 23, Fig. 5, and are open at their ends. The legs are fused to the lobes and extend over the ends of the cones 23 and are contracted at their outer ends at 24. Each contracted end 24 has a tapered recess 25 and receives an electrode 26 which extends 4through the legs 20 and into the lobes, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

A seal is mounted in the circular depression formed by the annular fiange 31 which is formed on the handle 16 and the body 17. A rubber gasket 32 is arranged in the flange 31 between the member 30 and a part 33 of the body 17 to make a watertlght connection between the lamp body and the seal when the screws 34 are suliiciently tightened.

Tubes 35 extend through'the holes 36 in the member 30 and receive the conductors 37 which have electrical contact with the electrodes 26. These tubes are of sufiicient diameter to receive the insulation 38 on the conductors. The holes 36 are countersunk at 39 on the inside face of the member 30 to receive the conical ends 40 of the plugs 41 and provide a watertight connection to pre'- vent any water which may enter the compartment 18 from leaking through the holes 36.

Rubber tubing 42 is connected to the contracted ends 24 of the legs and is watertight connected to the end 43 of the members 41. The tubing42 may be made integral with the plug 41 or it may be cemented or fastened thereto in any other suitable watertight connection at that point. The contracted ends of the legs may have annular grooves 44 provided therein, to receive means 45 whichare fastened around the outside ofthe tube 42 to make a watertight con'- nection between the legs and the rubber tube.

Water which may flnd its way into the compartment 18 is thus prevented from entering the rubber tube and getting to the electrodes or conductor connections.

Mercury is put into the quartz' vacuum element or tube, and capillary tubes 46 are arranged in the legs 20V to t'ake up the shock when the mercury breaks up during operation of the lam A rubber insuiiiting casing 50, Fig. 6, is

provided to fit around the legs of the vacuum element and absorbs any shock whichmay occur during operation of the lamp. This casing also prevents the legs of the vacuum element or tube from coming in contact with the metal body and casing. A pair of flexible rubber members'51 comprise the casing A water lnlet line 60` has communication with the chamber 14, and water. coming in through this line circulates about the vacuum element 15 to cool it during operation.- A baiile 61 is arranged inside of the chamber 14 and it has an opening 62 provided therein through which the water passes after it has served its purpose of cooling the vacuum element. The opening 62 communicates with .a return line 63 which leads to a receptacle or sewer.

A rubber disk 65 and a metal washer 66, Fig. 7, are fitted over the tube 35 where it extends through the sealing element 30. A thumb nut 67 has threaded engagement with the tube member' 35, and rotation thereof causes the lianged end 68 of the tube 35 to pull toward the nut and squeeze the rubber plug 41, forcing it tightly into its seat. This construction makes a watertight connection and prevents water from leaking through the holes 36.

When direct current is employed andonly two lobes are provided, the center hole in the sealing element 30 may be stopped up by means of a plug member 70 having an opening 71 provided therein. A threaded bolt or screw 73 extends through the plug 70 and through the member30, as clearlyshown in Fig. 8. A rubber washer and a metal disk washer Y74 and 75 respectively are arranged about the threaded en d of thescrew or bolt 73, and the plug is clamped in position by means of a thumb nut or other tightening` means 76. i `4 The front portion 13 of the casing is provided with a removable window 77 of the usual type, and a gasket 78 isarranged between the two parts of the casing to make a tight seal at this point. n

The invention provides a watercooled lamp which is v provided with simple and novel means of the circulating water from getting to the electrodes or terminal connections. The novel manner in which the contacting points of the conductors and the electrodes is covfor positively preventing any v ered prevents water getting to these points, and the way in which the sealing element and the terminals are constructed and connected positively prevents any water which may get into the compartment 18 from leaking through the holes 36 and causing a short circuit. The novel means for sealing an opening in the sealing element allows it to be employed with lamps using direct current having two lobes and with lamps using alternating current having three lobes. The arrangement of the parts and the manner in which they are constructed Cause the plugs to be impinged between certain other parts and make a watertight connection.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriicing any of the advantages thereof, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. In a therapeutical lamp comprising a casing having a chamber therein and a vacuum element having a leg extending into said chamber and -means for circulating water about said element, a sealing element having a hole therein, a plug arranged in said cham-` ber and engageable with the hole in the sealing element, means operable from the outside of the casing to draw the plug into said hole, a conductor extending through said hole and through said plug, and means connected to said leg and said plug and having a watertight connection therewith.

2. In a therapeutical lamp comprising a casing having a chamber therein and a vacuum element having legs which extend into said chamber and means for circulating water about said element, a sealing element having openings therein, plugs arranged in said chamber and engageable with the openings in the sealing element, conductors extending through the openings and through said plugs, means connected to said legs and said plugs and having a watertight connection therewith, and screw means for forcing said plugs into position in said openings to prevent any Water which may enter said chamber from passing through said openlngs.

3. In a therapeutical lamp comprising a casing having arranged therein a vacuum element with an electrode connected thereto a sealing element fastened to said casing and having a countersunk opening therein, a plug seated in said opening, a tube extending through said 'sealing element and said plug, an electrical conductor arranged in said tube a1 l having electrical connection with said electrode, means connected to the plug to protect the conductor from water in the casing, and tightening means threadedly engaging said tube for drawing said plug in place in the opening to make a watertight connection.

4. In a therapeutical lamp comprising a casing having arranged therein a vacuum element with an electrode connected thereto, said vacuum element having an integral leg through which the electrode passes, a sealing element fastened to said casing and having a countersunk opening thereln, a plug seated in said opening, a tube extending through said plug and said sealing element, a conductor arranged in said tube and electrically connected to said electrode, means connecting said leg and said plug and hav: in a watertight connection therewith, said tu e having a flange engaging the plug and tightening means threadedly engaging said tube for drawing said plug in place and making a watertight connection about the hole in the sealing element.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARTHUR E. WIEBE. 

